Gawler Cycling Festival

Gawler is a great launching place to explore the diversity this region offers. There is also an increasing awareness that cycling is a great way to commute around the town.

This cycling festival is designed to celebrate cycling in and around Gawler. It will include events promoting cycle awareness, recreational riding, BMX racing, an individual road time trial and a film night.

It will held from September 22ndthrough 25th.

The events being planned include:

Organised recreational ride on Saturday 24th

BMX racing under lights on Saturday 24th

Individual Road Time Trial event on Sunday 25th, hosted by the Central Districts Cycling Club

Bike safety /awareness programs Sunday 25th

Film night at a local hotel Friday 23rd

During the Festival, the Gawler Cycling Guide will also be launched. This guide will showcase cycling routes within Gawler and the region. From this initial event it is hoped to grow to a biennial (every second year) event if it proves to be successful. So if you have an opportunity to support the event, that would be great. Event details include;

Recreational ride Saturday 24th

Please note the previous option of a ride to Two Wells and Virginia has been cancelled. This is due to concerns over the road conditions as a result of the persistent rainy weather, plus the possibility of rain on Saturday morning. These two factors combined to lift the risk to cyclists to an unacceptable level.

There will one recreational ride, the Stuart O'Grady Bikeway, starting from the Gawler Visitor Information Centre and linking with the Gawler Cycling Guide. It will be led by an experienced ride leader, plus a ‘tail end Charlie’. The ride will not be fully supported, but in case of a mechanical breakdown or emergency, there will be a recovery vehicle to assist. There will also be first aid available.

For those that are concerned about the distance, the Stuart O’Grady Bikeway ride is a great option for people getting back in to riding, a ‘rusty riders’ or someone wanting to try out recreational cycling. It’s flat and you can choose how far you want to ride, by turning around whenever you feel.

There will be a ride and safety brief before all ride.

Important information about the recreational rides

Riders must be 16 years or over

Average speeds will be between 23 to 25 kilometres per hour for the open road events. For the event on the Sturt O’Grady Bikeway, the average speed will be from 20 kilometres per hour

The rides are open road events, and you are sharing the road with other traffic that will be travelling at speed.

There will be marshals stationed at specific locations. Their role is not to stop the traffic, but to assist cyclists when entering or crossing over particular roadways that have been identified as being hazardous.

Have a mechanically sound and well maintained bicycle. This includes spare tubes, pump (firmly secured) or CO2 canisters so repairs can be made en-route.

Each cyclist to carry at least 750ml of water, plus sufficient food for the ride.

Carry a mobile phone plus rider identification

In case of extreme weather conditions ie heat, torrential rain or severe winds, rides will be cancelled, with a full refund provided

You must obey all Australian Road Rules

Ride to the left of the road way at all times to allow vehicles to pass

Ride in a single file although where safe to do so, it is possible to ride two abreast.

Be aware of the cyclists around you. Indicate if you are changing direction, slowing down or stopping

Please note, Gawler Cycles will be present before these rides if you need your bike looked at or you need to purchase a spare tube etc before you head off.There will also be traffic marshals to manage safety at busy intersections.

Ride: Gawler, Stuart O’Grady Bikeway, Gawler. (56kms) Start 8am, approximately 2.5 to 3 hours . For this ride, if you only want to go part of the way, that's fine, you can turn around when ever you wish.

BMX racing Saturday 24th

The Gawler BMX Club will be running this sanctioned event, the first major event since installing their new light towers.

All those competing must have a current BMX Australia license to participate

It will be a great opportunity to watch some high quality racing. Plus there will be full catering facilities available -hot/cold drinks, food, snacks.

The Central Districts Cycling Club will host an individual road time trial event. It will be run from the Evanston Gardens Community Centre. The course will include Angle Vale Road, Jack Cooper Drive, Hiller Road, Wingate Road. This loop is 10 Kilometres, with competitors completing two laps.

To enter you must have a Cycling Australia (CA) Racing License, CA Ride Comprehensive License, 3 or 12 months or a single ride Permit. The Permits can be obtained via the Gawler Cycling Festival on- line registration site.

This event is being held on a public road and normal road rules apply. You will need a bike in good repair, an AS approved helmet. CSA rules also require thatcompetitors must have a flashing red lightoperating on either the seat post or right rear seat stay of their bike. The light must be operational during the entire event and must visible from 200 metres to the rear.

There is also a $10 entry fee to cover the running of the event, first aid and traffic control.

For details visit the club’s website and follow the links to upcoming events

Information booth- Tips for riding on the road and sharing bicycle paths

Bicycle workshop - Basic bike maintenance and education

Bicycle maintenance course - How to fix a puncture

Win a prize!! Draw a bike to enter.

There will also be a group ride along the Gawler bike path, looping back to Clonlea Park. Plus there will be a BBQ where food can be purchased. Although if you are not riding, you are more than welcome to come along to the event at to pick up some information, plus enter a drawing of a bike to in the draw for a prize.

Please note, if there are any medical concerns that many affect anyone, in particular children, taking part in the group ride, please ensure the appropriate medication is on hand and if appropriate, notify the instructor.

Also, children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult

So bring along your bikes for a fun morning.

Film night Friday 23rd

Watch the classic, “A Sunday in Hell” at the Prince Albert Hotel. This film documents the1976,Paris–Roubaix. Starting at 8pm, maximum of 40 tickets. A must for all who enjoy cycling.

Costs

The aim is to keep the cost down as much as possible, although we need to cover insurance and other running costs.

The cost for all therecreational ride is around $12 . All booking and payments can be made through Eventbright and there will be a small booking fee. You will be able to register on the morning.

Film night, $5 per ticket, limited to 40 tickets, so get in quick.

There will be a cost for thetime trialevent. The cost is around $12 to cover the insurance and to cover running the event, around an extra $10. If you are only riding in this event, the cost will be around $22. Central’s will have permits and licenses available at sign on.

The cost of thefamily fun dayactivities will be free. There will be food available to purchase, or bring along a picnic.

This event is also supporting the work of the Royal Society for the Blind (RSB). When booking a ticket on the EventBright site, and during the events there will be opportunities for you to donate to this worthwhile cause. If you want to get a better understanding of the work of the RSB, please visit

This is a fantastic opportunity for the community to get together and see what cycling is about and how this sport is enjoyed by so many people. It is a great idea to incorporate a number of different events cyclists enjoy and compete in.
I am quie happy to put my hand up and help in any way I can. Great effort in the organising of this event Paul.